5547 Lee Valley Rd
Rome, NY 13440

"The homes are beautiful and historic. It’s a beautiful place to walk, run, play tennis at the local park"

"This is the house I was raised in and now over 45 years later it is still one of the best neighborhoods. People still have values and look out for each other. "

" Beautiful homes abound, of every variety....winters are snowy, but it hardly slows anything down...friendly people. The downside is high taxes, a growing population of people from downstate and NYC who are there because of the massive prisons right outside Rome; most are on welfare, draining the city's resources, and the amount of crime - unusual for Rome -- has grown proportionately...if Rome's government cannot find a way to put a brake on this influx, the historic nature of Rome and environs will change permanently. Rome is already struggling from problems dating back 40 years or so, when the govt decided to tear down a quintessential turn of the centery downtown, and cover it with concrete and massive parking garages.....the city is now trying to turn it back into the epicenter of a wonderful town, once again. Cannot be done unless they erect replicas of what they tore down. Rome has a poor reputation for preserving its historic buildings, poor zoning, and without the rejuvenation of former Griffiss Air Force Base, would have virtually no real industries. There still is, however, a certain charm in its older neighborhoods and its friendly, open people. The lovely, historic churches add to the charm, but Rome needs more people to enjoy them (the closing of the base was near-catastrophic for the city's population -- from approx 44,000 then to less than 30,000 now). But I still love to go Home to Rome, although my family is no longer there, but a few friends still are, but I worry about its future."